Magnetic tape guiding system takes advantage of characteristics of slit magnetic tape wherein one of the two tape edges has a higher tendency to shed tape debris than the other, and the slit tape is consistently loaded into tape cartridges in the same direction. A tape guiding system is configured to guide a magnetic tape along a tape path extending across magnetic tape head(s) from a tape cartridge oriented in a single direction, the cartridge having a length of magnetic tape with a second edge tending to create lower debris under contact than a first edge. At least one single flange tape guide roller has a cylindrical surface oriented to provide the tape path for the magnetic tape, and has a single flange at one end of the cylindrical surface that is oriented with respect to the cartridge receiver to correspond to the second edge of the magnetic tape.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A magnetic tape drive comprising: a cartridge receiver configured to receive a magnetic tape cartridge oriented in a single direction, said magnetic tape cartridge having a length of magnetic tape with respectively first and second parallel edges at opposite sides of said magnetic tape, said second edge tending to create lower debris under contact than said first edge; at least one magnetic tape head configured to read and/or write data with respect to magnetic tape guided across said magnetic tape head; a guiding system comprising only at least one single flange tape guide roller having a cylindrical surface oriented to provide a tape path for said magnetic tape across said at least one magnetic tape head, and having a single flange at one end of said cylindrical surface that is oriented with respect to said cartridge receiver to correspond to said second edge of said magnetic tape, eliminating guidance contact with respect to said first edge of said magnetic tape; and a tape drive system configured to move said magnetic tape longitudinally along said tape path.
2. The magnetic tape drive of claim 1 , wherein said guiding system comprises only at least one said single flange tape guide roller at either side of said at least one magnetic tape head along said tape path, eliminating guidance contact with respect to said first edge of said magnetic tape.
3. The magnetic tape drive of claim 2 , wherein said tape drive system is configured to respectively wind and unwind magnetic tape longitudinally along said tape path to and from reels at either side of said at least one magnetic tape head, and wherein said single flange tape guide rollers are positioned at points along said tape path where said tape path is directed towards said reels.
4. A tape guiding system configured to guide a magnetic tape along a tape path, said tape path extending across at least one magnetic tape head from a magnetic tape cartridge oriented in a single direction, said magnetic tape cartridge having a length of magnetic tape with respectively first and second parallel edges at opposite sides of said magnetic tape, said second edge tending to create lower debris under contact than said first edge; said tape guiding system comprising: only at least one single flange tape guide roller having a cylindrical surface oriented to provide a tape path for said magnetic tape across said at least one magnetic tape head, and having a single flange at one end of said cylindrical surface that is oriented with respect to said cartridge receiver to correspond to said second edge of said magnetic tape, eliminating guidance contact with respect to said first edge of said magnetic tape.
5. The tape guiding system of claim 4 , wherein said tape path extends beyond said at least one magnetic tape head longitudinally on both sides of said at least one magnetic tape head; and said tape guiding system comprises only at least one said single flange tape guide roller at either side of said at least one magnetic tape head along said tape path, eliminating guidance contact with respect to said first edge of said magnetic tape.
6. The tape guiding system of claim 5 , wherein said tape path extends longitudinally to points at either side of said magnetic tape head where said magnetic tape is respectively directed toward reels, said reels configured to wind and unwind magnetic tape longitudinally along said tape path; and wherein said single flange tape guide rollers are positioned at points along said tape path where said tape path is directed towards said reels.
7. A magnetic tape recording path configured to record data with respect to a magnetic tape guided longitudinally along a tape path, said tape path extending from a magnetic tape cartridge oriented in a single direction, said magnetic tape cartridge having a length of magnetic tape with respectively first and second parallel edges at opposite sides of said magnetic tape, said second edge tending to create lower debris under contact than said first edge; said magnetic tape recording path comprising: at least one magnetic tape head configured to read and/or write data with respect to magnetic tape guided across said magnetic tape head; and a guiding system comprising only at least one single flange tape guide roller having a cylindrical surface oriented to provide a tape path for said magnetic tape longitudinally across said at least one magnetic tape head, and having a single flange at one end of said cylindrical surface that is oriented with respect to said cartridge receiver to correspond to said second edge of said magnetic tape, eliminating guidance contact with respect to said first edge of said magnetic tape.
8. The magnetic tape recording path of claim 7 , wherein said guiding system comprises only at least one said single flange tape guide roller at either side of said at least one magnetic tape head along said tape path, eliminating guidance contact with respect to said first edge of said magnetic tape.
9. The magnetic tape recording path of claim 8 , wherein said tape path extends longitudinally to points at either side of said magnetic tape head where said magnetic tape is respectively directed toward reels, said reels configured to wind and unwind magnetic tape longitudinally along said tape path; and wherein said single flange tape guide rollers are positioned at points along said tape path where said tape path is directed towards said reels.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
September 21, 2006
February 5, 2008
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